• A few people have been scammed on the site, Only use paypal to pay for items for sale by other members. If they will not use paypal, its likely a scam NEVER SEND E-TRANSFERS OF ANY KIND.

Return to the Land of the Dragon...again....2017

I should have added that 670cc, DCTFAN, fiescr, and GunNut37086 are featured in these pictures. Our friend Kodiak is on the KLR.
 
I've salvaged what little footage I got from our ride.
711, then Little Snowbird Rd
YouTube


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
GunNut37086 and I, along with our friend Don/Kodiak, have made it home safely.
Finally got the bike cleaned, too?[emoji2]
I caught some fog and drizzle but had good traction all the way home.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
The trip home started in light rain, then it turned heavy overcast, no wind, and pleasant (my favorite), then it got too hot and sunny, and then I deftly dodged a thunderstorm, then I sat in a 20 minute traffic jam that had no apparent reason other than the traffic exceeded the capacity of the highway, then it got colder with a very strong headwind (mpg dropped to the 50s). Anyway, I made it home safely.

The bike will get cleaned maybe sometime in June. There're other trips to work in first: skiing, boating, and dirt biking.

I learned a few things on this trip. One, it would be nice to ditch the big ol' Madstad and have a stock screen for forest road riding. Second, the Shinko 705s work well on road and trail, but they hate tar snakes (and so do I). Third, the RaceTech fork springs are actually more important in improving the front end than I had first assumed. The emulators alone get you only halfway there.

At the risk of losing my man card, I'll probably trailer the bike to KSL next time. I loathe the northern part of the trip to and fro due the boring Interstate travel and 80 mph heavy traffic. Interstate is the only choice because the back roads are congested and in dire need of maintenance.

It was great seeing old friends at KSL, and making new friends, too. I look forward to next year's event, with the hope there might also be one this fall. I'll be in the Cherokee, NC area the last week of September for the Goldwing event there.
 
Last edited:
Finally got the bike cleaned, too?[emoji2]
I caught some fog and drizzle but had good traction all the way home.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
The bike did get very clean! I'm glad because I really don't have time to get all that dust off [emoji1]
We waited entirely too long at KSL for the rain to keep moving and were very wet for a while. Halfway through the dragon (we decided to take a northern route rather than Cherohala) it dried up. Terry and Ruth escorted us up 28 in their van. The rest of the trip was long, but uneventful.
 
I left KSL on the way home in the light rain and headed to go thru the Dragon. I went slow due to never been in the wet on the Kenda tires but they did fine. I was in light rain to the Ky border on I-75 then overcast and cool the rest of the way to Louisville and then it got hot. I barely missed a thunderstorm which had went over my area 30 miles north of Louisville. I only got about 50mpg on the way home after hitting Interstate, but that what happens when I am going 82-85mph into a head wind (wanted to get home in the least amount of time)-still took 6 hours (it took me 2 hours to get to Maryville TN). I am overdue on valve check so that will happen this weekend and cleaning up the bike also. I was tired when I got home. Don't think I have ever ridden so many curves in 4 days of riding before. Frank lead our small group on Friday and Saturday and he had some wonderful routes for us asphalt huggers :). It was 400 miles on Thursday to get to KSL, then I rode the Nantahala gorge route. On Friday, we did approx. 200 miles: 2 times thru the Dragon (down and back), 2 times on the Skyway (over and back). Saturday, 300 miles; we rode to Bridal Vail Falls, down thru Highlands, made our way over to TWOs via hwy 180 (great riding road). Made our way over to try the fried pies (first time and not a fan of the fried pies). Road up to Murphy, Hwy 68 up to Tellico Plains, and over the Skyway again. Made it back to KSL just in time for dinner :). 400 miles back home on Sunday. Weather was perfect except for the light rain Sunday morning (thanks to Mo and Bobby for the fine weather). It was great seeing all the different bikes and setups. We missed Dale being there along with OCR being MIA (both of you heal quickly).
 
I had a great time again this year. The weather could have been a little cooler but the nights were cool enough. The people I meet and the friends I see again make me look forward to next year. My friends Ashley and Rick also enjoyed the trip and Kickstand Lodge.

Two days is never enough time but I really enjoyed the two days riding we did plus the way I ride up and back gives another half day of good back roads in central and northern GA. Saturday we found some new roads north of Asheville and I want to explore that area more next trip. The NC is a real pleasure to ride on those twisty roads.

We left in a gentle rain and it rained for a couple hundred miles, then again for about 40 miles right before arriving home. I like riding in rain for the coolness and paucity of bugs and the ride home was pleasant.
 
Leaving Saturday night after the ride to try and avoid the rain since i only live 2:15 from the Kickstand. I hate packing up a wet tent to only have to put it up again at home to dry out. well i made to Murphy, NC inside a hour and the bottom fell out with High winds. I couldn't see in the rain and the dark, so i had to get a hotel room. Still had a wet trip on the way home yesterday morning, but all my gear was dry :). Already washed the bike, and looks brand new again.. Had a great ride both days. Great group we had. you know who you are. Glad everyone made it home safe. Look forward to next year.
chad
 
Chad, it was great seeing your lines on the gravel-dragon.
Next time, slow down so I can read them, LOL.
It was only last year I was having a great time watching
670cc rail those twisties on tarmac; now I have two riders to catch up to.:)
CRStep surprised most of us, having limited gravel tours- and it
sounds like next year she'll be a force to be reconned with...
My force is diminishing every year.
 
Leaving Saturday night after the ride to try and avoid the rain since i only live 2:15 from the Kickstand. I hate packing up a wet tent to only have to put it up again at home to dry out. well i made to Murphy, NC inside a hour and the bottom fell out with High winds. I couldn't see in the rain and the dark, so i had to get a hotel room. Still had a wet trip on the way home yesterday morning, but all my gear was dry :). Already washed the bike, and looks brand new again.. Had a great ride both days. Great group we had. you know who you are. Glad everyone made it home safe. Look forward to next year.
chad
We watched the radar maps and figured you didn't make it before the weather Saturday. Having gotten soaked putting away a wet tent yesterday morning, I don't blame you for wanting to avoid it.

DCTFAN, I enjoyed seeing you ride the AT, even if it was farther ahead of me on those gravel routes. You're right, next time I'll be ready for anything you want to ride [emoji1]

You guys weren't joking about Mo learning all the names. It's really impressive. I look forward to going back!
 
Everybody agrees
Once at the KSL,
You know MO
268030c7aabbfd0b1402ef5e258949ee.jpg


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Chad, it was great seeing your lines on the gravel-dragon.
Next time, slow down so I can read them, LOL.
It was only last year I was having a great time watching
670cc rail those twisties on tarmac; now I have two riders to catch up to.:)
CRStep surprised most of us, having limited gravel tours- and it
sounds like next year she'll be a force to be reconned with...
My force is diminishing every year.


that was one of the best days on a bike in a while. Awesome mixing the woods, and twisties in the same day
 
Again my son got most worn tire award. This year the front tire.T - Front.jpg
Some seem to put on new rubber for the ride and we seem to take our old rubber and leave the last of it there.:D

P.S. The white spot is dirt, not cords! :eek:
 
Last edited:
I just found the coolest picture frame ever for this year's pic from the Dragon.

DragonFrame.JPG

This is their new design, not yet posted on their site. They were awesome!! They emailed me to show me this new design before starting my order. How cool is that?
 

Attachments

  • DragonFrame.jpg
    DragonFrame.jpg
    89.2 KB · Views: 170
Last edited:
Back
Top